The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-19
The COnvicts of the Prison Plundered
of a Sum Aggregating $4,000.
The Steward and Directors Implicated-The
State Will Lose Every Cent, Because
Howard Did Business ION Honor"
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 18-At o'clock yes
terday afternoon, in face of the most damaging
evidence which had been brought against him.
Andrew j. Howard. warden of the State Prison
South; at Jeffersonville, rendered his resigna-
accepted, and he stepped down and out. Mr..
Sinclair. the chairman of the House investigat-
ing committee, at once telegraphed this fact to
w. G.. Sayre, the Speaker of the House at In
danapolis, 'and within an hour an answer was
received instructing the committee to push the
investigation to an end regardless of the action
taken by the warden. Captain George Baxter,
the deputy warden, assumed charge of the
prison, and gave allorders under the committees
instructions which were necessary. The COM
mittee, which had,temporarily suspended work,
after the resignation Of Captain Howard, at once
returned to the investigation.
more startling condition Of affairs was
found to exist than was even suspected. All
day rumors had been flying around to the
effect that Howard was short in his accounts
This was at first placed at $l5. 600; then the
amount sprung to s25. 600, and Immediately after
the adjournment of the committee, at o'clock
P. NJ, it WAS learned that the deficiency would
reach no one knew where! The lowest estimate
| was placed at $45, ,00O and others claimed it
would reach $4,000 What the exact amount
| is will not be known until the expert, John W.
| Coons, the deputy Auditor of State, who is at
work OF the books of the institution, completes
his examination. The swindle has been going
| on for years, and the books have been kept in
such a condition that it is almost impos-
sible to get correct balance from them. The
clerk OF the prison is an expert book keeper, but
the books show nothinl at all except errors and
gross mistakes in tho accounts In one item
alone-that Of the general fund-a shortage has
been discovered of nearly $4,000 In making an
that on the 1st day of the present month there
was to the credit Of the warden in the Citizens
National Bank but $65. On the 10th inst the
the Senate committee made their examin-
alton of the books and demanded to count the
cash on hand, which the books showed to be
$4,000 Howard declined to show up the money,
and stated that the committee had no right to
pry into his private affairs. They soon con-
vinced him that they had the right to 20 through
his bank accounts as warden, and he finally
sent Capt. David Allen, the steward of the
prison, to the bank for the money He shortly
returned and placed in the committees hands
the sum required The House commit
tee now find. and will so report to
the Legislature, that Of the $4,000
shown up, not one cent properly belonged to
was borrowed for few hours show, and So, 0OC
was obtained from convict in the most repre-
hensible manner. The prisoner in question is a
. life time convict by the name of Sanders, who
was formerly captain in the federal army. He
was sent from Clay county, Indiana, and afte,
his confinement received from the government {
pension of nearly $1,000 OF this sum he heli
certificate of deposit on the Citizens Natiora
Bank, of Jeffersonvlle, for $4,000 Coins
: to him, Howard stated that he wa
going to Indianapolis at once, and i
Sanders would turn over to him the So, 900. h,
would engage a lawyer and bring such influence
to bear on Governor Gray as would compel hin
, to grant the convicts pardon. To these promi
i ses was added intimations of such character tha
: Sanders was alarmed for his future treatmen
D in case he refused, and he consented to le
Howard have the money. The certificate of de
2 posit was Endorsed over to him, and the none
was shown the Senate committee as portion O
the State funds.
The committee will further report that NOR
than one case similar to Sanders's exists A
examination Of the Convict cash book" show
to be due the prisoners on individual account
!, about three thousand six hundred dollars.
this sum not one cent can be found, the varde